Device for dispensing substantially spherical articles



. 2,' 1941. M. A. ROEMMELE DEVICE FOR DISPENSING SUBSTANTIALLY SPHERICAL ARTICLES Filed April 8, 1941 INVENTOR MAX ALEXA/V051? ROEMMELf ATTORNEYS Patented Dec; 2, 1941 PA'E'N OFFICE Max Alexander Roemmele, Glasgow, Scotland Application April 8, 1941, Serial N0. 387,429

In Great 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a device for use in dispensing substantially spherical articles of uniform size, such as pills, (hereinafter referred to for convenience of description as pills").

A dispensing device according to the invention, for pocket use or for general application, comprises a container having an inclined base terminating in a pill-receiving pocket, a pill-delivery chute communicating with the pocket and with the top of the container and so arranged as to afiord a barrier preventing the entry of pills into the pocket other than one at a time so that, when the container is lying in its normal position, the pills gravitate towards the pocket and the pill nearest the pocket is caused to enter the pocket, and, when he container is inverted, the pill accommodated in the pocket is discharged by gravity through the chute while the remaining pills flow by gravity away from the pocket.

A dispensing device according to the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section on the line H of Fig. 2, Fig; 2 a plan view, and Fig. 3 a trasmentary horizontal section on the line 11-?) of Fig. 1.

The dispensing device shown comprises a container I provided with an inclined base 2 terminating in a pill-receiving pocket 3. Communicating with th'e pocket 3 and with the top of the container I is a pill-delivery chute 4 so arranged as to aflord a barrier preventing the entry of piillllls 5 into the pocket 3 otherwise than one at a Britain September 21, 1939 A pill enters the pocket 3 through either of two lateral openings 6 in the lower end of the chute 4.

1 denotes a circularly movable cover fitted to the top of the container I and provided with a pill-discharge orifice 8 adapted to be brought into register with the upper end of the chute 4 by circular adjustment of the cover I.

In the use of the device, when the container I is lying in its normal position, the pills gravitate towards the pocket 3 so that the pill nearest the pocket is caused to enter the pocket and, when the container I is inverted, the pill accommodated in the pocket 3 is discharged by gravity through the chute A while the remaining pills flow by gravity away from the pocket 3.

What is claimed is:

A device for use in dispensing pills and like spherical articles of uniform size comprising a cylindrical pill container having an inclined base terminating in a pill-receiving pocket, a pill-delivery chute having lateral openings at its lower end afiording communication with said pocket, said chute having one of its walls formed by part of the inner wall of said container and being arranged to prevent the entry of pills into the pocket otherwise than one at a time through one of said openings, and a circularly adjustable cover for said container. said cover being provided with a pill-discharge orifice adapted to register I with the said chute on adjustment or said cover.

MAX ALEXANDER ROEMMELE. 

